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Racial discrimination can affect adolescents' development - lead to depression and behavior problems

Racial discrimination in the lives of African-American children can lead to depression and behavior problems in adolescence, but teens who have had close relationships with their parents, friendships focused on positive pursuits and good schooling experiences are less likely to experience these negative effects.

14 Sep 2006

British tackle childrens' tooth decay in deprived areas

A British scheme to encourage families with young children in disadvantaged areas to get into the habit of brushing their children's teeth regularly with fluoride toothpaste was launched by Health Minster Rosie Winterton today at the Appleby health centre in Newham - an area with one of the highest oral health needs in the country.

14 Sep 2006

Most child ear aches do not need antibiotics

According to the latest research the most common reason why doctors prescribe antibiotics for children is ear ache, and often most ear aches would clear up without them.

13 Sep 2006

Global action needed to protect children from junk food ads on the internet

An international conference on obesity in Sydney, Australia, has heard that children are being targeted by junk food manufacturers through internet advertising, chat rooms, text messages and "advergames" on websites.

6 Sep 2006

Children with lactose intolerance still need dairy's nutrients

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is recommending in a new report that children with lactose intolerance should include dairy foods as part of a healthy diet in order to get enough calcium, vitamin D, protein and other nutrients essential for bone health and overall growth.

6 Sep 2006

Feeding your baby foods made with real fruits and vegetables early in life key to controlling their waistline as they grow older

Already, years of research has shown that breastfeeding does protect against obesity risk later in life. With that in mind, Lumeng encourages new moms to make their best effort at breastfeeding, and to seek help from their pediatrician or a lactation consultant if they experience any difficulty.

5 Sep 2006

Messy nappies may be sign of severe intestinal infection

Anyone who's ever cared for an infant or young child knows what it's like to change the occasional smelly, messy diaper.

5 Sep 2006

Uninsured Latino children more likely not to get medical care

Writing in the September issue of Pediatrics, Dr. Flores, one of the country's foremost experts on multicultural health care issues, sought to identify the risk factors for and consequences of being uninsured in Latino children.

5 Sep 2006

Older fathers almost six times more likely to have autistic children

Researchers in the U.S. have found that children fathered by older men have a higher risk of developing autism, possibly because of mutations or other genetic changes.

5 Sep 2006

Overweight toddlers will be obese 12 year olds

Researchers in the U.S. who conducted a collaborative study involving the National Institute for Health and a number of academic institutions, say they have found that children who are overweight as toddlers or pre-schoolers are more likely to be overweight or obese in early adolescence.

5 Sep 2006

Televised movie trailers expose youth to images of tobacco use

Despite a ban on tobacco advertising on television, nearly all U.S. children age 12 to 17 years may have been exposed to tobacco use through movie advertisements televised in 2001 to 2002, according to an article in the September issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

4 Sep 2006

Drinking during pregnancy linked to offspring's risk of alcohol disorders in early adulthood

Individuals whose mothers drink three or more glasses of alcohol at any one occasion in early pregnancy have an increased risk of developing alcohol disorders by 21 years of age, according to a report in the September issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.

4 Sep 2006

Injured, ill children treated at U.S. military hospital in Iraq

Based on the experience of Air Force personnel at an expeditionary military hospital in Iraq, military hospitals should be prepared with the proper staff, training and equipment to treat injured and noninjured children who require medical care.

4 Sep 2006

Children of men age 40 and older have a significantly increased risk of having autism

Children of men age 40 and older have a significantly increased risk of having autism spectrum disorders compared with those whose fathers are younger than 30 years, according to an article in the September issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.

4 Sep 2006

Prevention programs for teens can reduce methamphetamine abuse

New research supported in part by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health, shows that prevention programs conducted in middle school can reduce methamphetamine abuse among rural adolescents years later.

4 Sep 2006

Link between morbid obesity in toddlers and lower IQ scores

University of Florida researchers have discovered a link between morbid obesity in toddlers and lower IQ scores, cognitive delays and brain lesions similar to those seen in Alzheimer's disease patients, a new study shows.

4 Sep 2006

Childhood asthma linked to low vitamin E intake during pregnancy

Researchers in Britain believe that children whose mothers had a low intake of vitamin E during pregnancy are more likely to develop wheezing and asthma by age five.

4 Sep 2006

Pediatricians not doing enough to stop parental smoking

Parental smoking is a pediatrician's business, experts say, yet many are reluctant to tell parents to stop smoking and offer little support for efforts to quit, a new study suggests.

31 Aug 2006

Kids will eat more fruits and less fat

School lunches and vending machines aren't the only places to look for ways to improve students' nutrition. Modest changes in the kinds of snacks offered at after-school programs can also have a significant positive impact on children's diets.

30 Aug 2006

Vitamin D supplements should be given to Asian children from birth up to the age of two years

Vitamin D deficiency can cause rickets, poor tooth formation, convulsions, general ill health, and stunted growth. And it has been linked to an increased risk of multiple sclerosis, certain cancers, and cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and mental health problems in later life.

30 Aug 2006